Convention of Agricultural Chemists

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SCIENCE

KRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 1888.

Some very interesting inquiries are suggested by the
statistics of the enrolment of pupils in the private schools of the
country, which will appear in the forthcoming report of the
National Bureau of Education. These statistics are necessarily
very fragmentary, and some of them bear internal evidence of their
incorrectness. But in a few States the reports are sufficiently full
to indicate a tendency, at least. In Vermont, for instance, there
was a decrease of .36 per cent in the enrolment of children in the
public schools, while the enrolment in the private schools increased
3.57 per cent. In Connecticut the increase in the public-school en-
rolment was only .2 per cent, but in the private schools it was 5.13
per cent; and in New York the figures are .98 and 4.12 per cent
respectively. But these percentages alone might be very mislead-
ing, since they are computed on different quantities. The actual
statistics show that Vermont lost from her public-school enrol-
ment in the year, 265 pupils, and gained in her private schools 259.
In Connecticut the gains were 255 and 778 respectively; and in
New York, 10,045 and 5,268. Some startling conclusions might
be drawn from a superficial consideration of these figures as to the
tendency of public opinion as to the relative value of public and
private schools ; but no confidence could be placed in them, owing
to the absence of so many necessary elements of the problem. At
the same time it is very desirable that the statistics of the private
schools of the country should be collected with the utmost com-
pleteness and accuracy, and it is encouraging that Connecticut has
already taken legislative action that should secure a complete
system of private-school reports in the future, and that movements
in the same direction are on foot in several other States.

Reports received in Washington from Callao describe the
sudden collapse of the paper money of Peru. Part of this cur-
rency, amounting to 20,000,000 soles, was issued by the banks at
Lima ten years ago, and guaranteed by the government. The re-
maining 40,000,000 soles is government money. Its purchasing
capacity declined several years ago to one-twentieth of that of
silver, but, in the absence of any other circulating medium, it con-
tinued to be used by the people. Finally, in the brief period of ten
days, confidence was lost in it so rapidly that it was virtually
repudiated in all business transactions not directly connected
with the government, which receives it in half payment for duties
on imports, and pays it out to its employees. The amount
of silver in circulation in Peru is very small. The banks and
commercial houses of Lima and Callao could not produce 2,000,-
000 soles. The experience of Peru is but a repetition of that of
every other country that has violated the scientific law in es-
tablishing as a circulating medium an article that has no ex-
changeable value itself, and is not made redeemable in a commod-
ity that has — only more swift and disastrous.

When a wrong is assailed in general terms, the assault is
apt to be interesting to those who participate in it, and perhaps
to those who witness it ; but there is some danger that it may not
accomplish very much. This truth is illustrated by the results
which have so far followed the attempts of various medical jour-
nals in this country to abate the evil of quack advertisements in
religious newspapers. These attempts have been approved and ap-
plauded by medical men, and those who made them knew they

were discharging a useful office. But the religious newspapers
have not been cured ; and, indeed, they do not seem to have im-
proved materially. One of the reasons for this is, no doubt, the
fact that the attack has not been sufficiently sharp on any portion
of the line to break it, and that, while the whole religious press bore
the brunt of the assault, no one part experienced any special incon-
venience from it. The Medical and Surgical Reporter, believing
that no reform is ever accomplished without somebody being hurt,
now states that they shall not hesitate, when next they take this
subject up, to lay hands on particular religious papers, and say
plainly to the editor of each, " Thou art the man ! "

CONVENTION OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTS.

The convention of official agricultural chemists, composed of
analytical chemists connected with the United States Agricultural
Department, or with state or national agricultural experimental
stations or agricultural colleges, or with state or national institu-
tions or bodies charged with the official control of analysis of fer-
tilizers, soils, cattle-foods, dairy-products, and other material con-
nected with agricultural industry, met in the library of the Agricul-
tural Department during the first week of August. About thirty
members were present, including two delegates from Canada.

The method of this convention is to distribute samples in advance
to all its members, upon the analysis of which they make reports,
the object being to secure uniformity of methods and results. Pre-
vious to last year, fertilizers only were analyzed. A year ago there
were reports on dairy-products, and cattle-foods were added ; and
this year fermented liquors and sugars. The analyses this year
showed, that, following the methods adopted by the association,
the older and more experienced official chemists arrived at as uni-
form results as could be expected, — entirely satisfactory ones, —
but that there was great room for improvement among others.
Following the same methods, some of the chemists reach very
widely differing results.

One encouraging fact was mentioned by the secretary, and that
was the very general recognition which the association is receiving
from the manufacturers of, dealers in, and users of fertilizers. This
has been shown by the great demand for the bulletin of the asso-
ciation, the edition of which for last year was exhausted several
months ago, with the call for it still continuing, and by the numer-
ous letters received by the secretary, expressing a desire, on the
part of all those interested in the manufacture, sale, or use of fer-
tilizers, to conform their methods of analysis to those adopted by
the association. Those interested in other articles subjected to
analysis by the association will probably show the same interest
when the extension of its work becomes known.

By a change in the constitution, all members of the association
who lose their right to membership by retiring from the positions
that entitled them to it, may become honorary members, and exer-
cise all the privileges of membership except the right to hold office
and vote. It is believed that this amendment will secure the con-
tinued interest and co-operation of those who would otherwise
cease all connection with the association.

Another amendment of the constitution places the selection of
subjects for discussion, and the distribution of samples, in the
hands of a number of ' reporters,' appointed by the president, to
each of whom certain topics are assigned. These are to take the
place of the committees.

The officers chosen for the ensuing year were. Prof. J. A. Meyers
of West Virginia, president ; Prof. M. A. Scovell of Kentucky, vice-
president ; Prof. Clifford Richardson of Washington, secretary ;
Profs. William Frear of Pennsylvania and H. W. Wiley of Wash-
ington, executive committee.